Pension Application for William Smith William and Catharine were married the 15th of February 1784, in the Town of Fishkill, Dutchess by Reverend Mr. Gillispe.

Letter in folder dated April 10, 1940. Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of William Smith, who served from and was a pensioner of Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York, in 1833. The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension cla im W.16410, based upon service of William Smith in that war. William Smith was born September 9, 1760 in Newburgh, Ulster County, New York; the names of his parents were not given. He lived there during the period of the Revolutionary War. William Smith enlisted and served at different times in the New York troops, given as follows: from April or May 1776, six months as private in Captain Gillispy’s Company, Colonel Hardenbergh’s regiment, during which he was first at , and in the retreat to White Plains; from July 1777, three months as private in Captain Rose’s company, Colonel McClaughrey’s regiment, during which he was in the battle at Fort Montgomery; in 1778 or 1779, four months in Captain Gordon’s company, Colonel Gansevoorts’ regiment next, six months as a teamster under William Cummings, wagonmaster, and Colonel Mitchell, engaged in carrying clothing and ammunition from Newburgh to various places; from the spring of 1780, three months in Captain Burnet’s company, Colonel Dubois’ regiment, during which he was in an engagement near Fort Plain and assisted in taking some prisoners; and from March 1782, nine months in the militia under Colonel VanSchaick, name of his captain not stated. He was discharged from service at New Windsor, New York. After the Revolutionary War, William Smith continued to reside in Newburgh, New York, for two years, moved then to Balston, Saratoga County, New York, where he resided six years, and then moved to Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York. William Smith was allowed pension on account of his service in the Revolutionary War on his application executed September 4, 1832. He resided then in Amsterdam, New York. He died March 26, 1837. The soldier married in Fishkill, Dutchess County, New York, Catharine; she was born January 30, 1765, names of her parents and place not given. They were married February 15, 1784. Catharine Smith, this soldier’s widow, was allowed pension on her application executed August 22, 1838. She resided then in Amsterdam, New York. In August 1839, she resided in Perth, Fulton County, New York. In August 1838, Arthur Smith, the son of William Smith and his wife, Catharine, resided in Perth, New York. The names of the children of this soldier and his wife, Catharine, with the dates of their births are shown as follow: William Smith Born September 9th 1760. Catharine Smith Born January 30th 1765. James Smith Born November 29th 1784. Reubin Smith Born January 6th 1786. William Smith Born December 4th 1787. Denton Smith Born February 26th 1789. Debory Smith Born March 12th 1793. David Smith Born October 25th [blurred] Arthur Smith Born April 9th 1804.

State of New York County of Montgomery On this fourth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared before me, Abraham Morrell one of the Judges of Montgomery County Common Pleas being a Court of record of said County in the same State of New York William Smith a resident of the town of Amsterdam in the County of Montgomery and State of New York, aged seventy one years on the ninth day of September last, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered said service in the month of April or May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy Six, the day of the month he cannot recollect at Newburgh in the County of Ulster now County of Orange in the State of New York, in Captain Glaspies (1) or Captain Glaspys Company, Which he cannot now state neither can he state his Christian name, it having escaped his recollection, in Colonel Hardenburgh’s (2) and General Scotts (3) Brigade the Christian names of said Field officers he cannot recollect that Jacob Lawrence (4) was lieutenant in said Company—the Ensigns he cannot recollect the name of the major of the said regiment he cannot recollect, the name of the Brigade Major was Fish (5) as he things, he does not recollect his Christian name, that he served in said company Regiment & Brigade as aforesaid to sometime in November following, six full months at the least, after he entered the service aforesaid went to the City of New York where he lay until the British drove out the American troops (6) & took possession of said City retreated to Kings Bridge from thence to White Plains where the thinks he was discharged, no written discharge. Entered the said service again the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven, thinks in the month of July of that year, the day of the month cannot recollect and served at that time three months, at the last, was discharged the latter part of October or forepart of November of that year, the day he cannot recollect, no written discharge given. Entered the service the time of second service at Newburgh then county of Ulster, State of New York. Went to Fort Montgomery and remained there until the British took it was engaged said Battle of Fort Montgomery (7) went to New Windsor then proceeded to Esopus or Kingston and lay in that vicinity of that place until after that place was burnt by the British, thinks he was discharged at Esopus as aforesaid. This second service as aforesaid was in Capt. Roses (8) Company Col. McClockneys (9) Regiment, the names of the other officers in said Company & Regiment cannot recollect and whether the Cols name was correctly spelled cannot say entered the service again in the year 1778 or 1779 cannot say which at Newburgh the County of Ulster & State aforesaid, cannot state the day of the month nor the month but thinks it was in the summer, in a company commanded by Capt. Gordon (10) as he thinks and Col. Gansevoorts Regiment as he thinks does not know the name of the other field officers went from Newburgh to West Point and from there to Stoney Point and from there back to West Point then Embarked on Board of a Sloop & went to Albany from there to Schenectady from there to Johnstown, then back to Schenectady and from there to Stillwater and from there to Saratoga and from there to Albany & then discharged—discharge verbal, no written discharge does not recollect the day of his discharge but is sure it was as late as the month of October or November of the same year and his term of service this time was three or four months, but is certain it was as long as three months entered the service again in 1778 or 1779 does not know which year in the spring cannot state day nor month and served as a teamster in the quarter master Department. Col Mitchel (11) quartermaster William Cummings Waggon Master, entered at Newburgh then County of Ulster & state aforesaid, went to Essex in the State of New Jersey and to various other places with Clothing & ammunition for the army, discharged at Newburgh aforesaid in the fall of the year or Winter following his entering said service cannot state day nor month, nor the length of service but is positive it was as long as six months, no written discharge. Entered the service again at Newburgh aforesaid in 1780 cannot say what day of the month nor what month but it was in the spring of the year in Captain Burnets (10) company in Col Dubois Regiment Major Benschouten (13) is not certain that his name is correctly stated does not recollect the names of the other officers, continued in the service [??} does not recollect the day nor the month of his discharge but thinks he was discharged in the month of October or November of that year no written discharge given—after he entered the service this term went to Albany thence to Schenectady thence to Fort Plain had a Battle (14) with the Enemy about two miles above Fort plain, followed them & took some prisoners, after which returned to Albany where he was discharged. Entered the service again in 1782 at Fishkill County of Dutchess and State of New York cannot state the day nor month but thinks it was in the month of March of that year in Col. VanSchaick’s Regiment (15) does not recollect the Captains name but one Forman (16) I think was Lieutenant and does not recollect the names of the other officers, went to Pumton Plains (17) New Jersey, when he was commanded by said officers, thence to VerPlanck’s Point State of New York discharged at New Windsor in December of that year thinks, cannot state the day of the month no written discharge given served in said service this term at least for the pe riod as [??] at Newburgh the County of Ulster & State of New York – that he was Born at Newburgh then County of Ulster & State of New York. September 9, 1760 has a record of his age & same is in his possession in his family Bible lived in Newburgh aforesaid two years after the revolutionary war, since that at Balston Saratoga County State aforesaid six years, and then moved to Amsterdam Montgomery County State aforesaid where he has resided ever since & now resides or lives. The first time he entered the service as aforesaid he was drafted he cannot state the names of the officers further [?] said does not recollect [???] respecting the Continental & Militia Regiments he hath fully served his Country in the Capacities aforesaid or the periods above state d. That he is known to the Reverend James T. Joslin Josiel [?]. Stearns Joseph Simons, David Atkins Jacob [?] Abel [?] in his present Neighborhood, who can testify to his moral character for veracity & good behavior but knows of none who can testify to his services as a soldier of the revolution. And I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. (Signed with his mark) William Smith. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid, the work “not” in the 2 page & the word “Regiment” in the 3 page first duly interlined wand the words “or” (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of “First” only erased in the 3 page. Abm Morrell one of the Judges of the court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County & State of New York being a Court of [torn] End Notes—William Smith—W.16410 1. John Gillaspy was a captain in Colonel Jonathan Hasbrouck’s Fourth Regiment of Ulster County Militia. Gillaspy was commissioned captain on March 8, 1778. 2. Johannes Hardenbergh, Jun., was the lieutenant colonel of Colonel Hasbrouck’s Regiment. 3. John Morin Scott was appointed brigadier general of the New York State Militia on June 9, 1776. 4. Jacob Lawrence was the first Lieutenant of Captain Jacob Conkling’s Company in Colonel Hasbrouck’s Regiment. 5. was appointed brigade major of Scott’s brigade on August 9, 1776. 6. The Battle of was fought on August 27, 1776. 7. The Battle of Fort Montgomery, NY was fought on October 6, 1777. 8. Jacobus Rose was a captain in Colonel Hasbrouck’s Regiment. 9. James McClaughrey was the colonel of the Second Regiment of Ulster County Militia. 10. There was no Captain Gordon or any officer with that surname in Colonel Peter Gansevoort’s Third New York Continental Regiment. There were two different William Smith’s in Colonel Gansevoort’s Regiment but they both deserted in 1777 and never returned to the regiment. Gansevoort’s Regiment garrisoned Fort Schuyler in 1778 and was there until late October or early November. Smith details movements that this regiment didn’t make for the year 1778 or 1779. Gansevoort’s Regiment returned to the Mohawk Valley in April of 1779 and eventually was part of the Sullivan-Clinton Campaign against the Indian Villages of Western New York. 11. A complete list of employees of the Quartermaster General’s Department or the Commissary Department has not been found. Captain Uriah Mitchell was the Assistant Deputy Quartermaster at Newburgh still in 1782 but Cummings was not listed. 12. John Burnet was a captain in Colonel Lewis DuBois’ Regiment of New York State Levies. DuBois was appointed Colonel on July 1, 1780 to raise a regiment for three months. 13. Elias VanBenschoten was appointed major in DuBois’ Regiment on July 1, 1780. 14. The Battle of Klocksfield was fought on October 19, 1780 near the present day Village of St. Johnsville, Montgomery County. 15. William enlisted in Lieutenant Colonel Commandant Frederick Weisenfels Regiment of New York State Levies. Weisenfels supplied men to serve in Colonel Goose Vanschaick’s First New York Continental Regiment, Colonel Philip VanCortlandt’s Second New York Continental Regiment and Colonel John Lamb’s Second Continental Artillery Regiment to serve as levies for nine months in those regiments. 16. John Furman served as a lieutenant in Captain Henry Tiebout’s Company in Colonel VanSchaick’s Regiment. There is only one return for “Roll and Muster of Company of Levies Joined the First New York Regt of Foot for the Month of June 1782.” Smith’s name is on the roll as enlisting for nine months. FROM: Revolutionary War Rolls 1775-1783, Series M-246, Roll 65, folder 4, National Archives, Washington, D. C. 17. The First New York was encamped at Pompton Plains, New Jersey in 1782. Detachments were sent to VerPlank’s Point, West Point and Smith’s Clove.